Flank Steak Sandwich

I saw this dish on dinners drive in and dives on the food network. It was from a mexican food truck. I've always heard coke is a good tenderizer and I wanted to try this. The combo of the coke and the soy sauce really tenderized the meat and added a lot of flavor. This sandwich took a bit of effort but was really tasty and I will definitely make this again.

Ingredients: 
2 lbs. flank steak - cut into 1/2 pound chunks.
1 can coke
2 large white onions
6 cloves garlic (peeled first then charred in pan)
2 oranges cut into chunks
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 large bottle of green Dos Equies beer
salt and pepper

white sandwich buns
can of black beans
chicken stock
queso fresco, crumbled
arugula

Directions:

marinade for flank steak:

1 onion, thinly sliced
6 cloves roasted garlic (peeled first then charred in pan)
2 oranges - cut into chunks
1/4 cup soy sauce
pepper
1 large bottle of beer

1. Combine all mariade ingredients in a bowl. Add flank steak chunks and allow to marinate at least 8 hours and up to over night.

2. Heat a few tbs. of canola oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add a few flank steak pieces at a time a cook on each side for 4-5 minutes or until a nice brown crust forms. Allow beef to rest for at least 10 minutes.

3. Carmelize the 1 sliced onion with a splash of coca cola, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a pan over medium low heat. Seat aside when finished but keep warm.

4. Combine black beans and chicken stock into a pan with some salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder. (if you don't have extra spices that's ok). Cook for 10 minutes and then mash with a fork or potato masher. You want a chunky spread but enough mashed beans to be spreadable. 

4. Thinly slice flank steak across the grain. Add a tbs. of canola oil and 1 tbs. of butter to a pan over medium heat. Add steak in a layer and top with the queso fresco. Cover with a lid to help cheese melt and heat steak through to desired temperature doneness.


5. Assemble sandwich:

Thin layer of bean spread on each side of bun.
Toast bread with bean side down for 1 minute

Place steak and cheese mix on bun, then onions, then arugula.
Cut sandwich in half and serve.